Some Favorites

This is a story about a girl with bacon in her refrigerator, cookies in her jar, and snug-fitting jeans.  The story goes like this:  there once was a girl who had well-done bacon and chocolate-dipped cookies for breakfast.  It felt good and right and she had no regrets.  The End.

I’ve been breakfasting hard this week.  For me that usually involves some sort of burnt bread situation.

I feel like breakfast is the one meal of the day that I have under control (burning aside).  Other eating tends to be a bit irresponsible.

I’m trying out a new service called Stitch Fix.  Have you heard of this?  It’s like a friend shops for you, sends you bundles in the mail, and you pick and choose what you’d like to keep.  I’m new to the Stitch Fix game, but so far this knitted Kensi top in blue and green has given me great hope.

I am now the proud owner of a pair of blue suede shoes.  It’s been a lifelong dream.

These are Ted Baker men’s shoes.  Do you know how comfortable men have it in the shoe game!?  They’re doing it right.  Let’s get in their game.

As we’re saying goodbye to summer (I’m kicking and screaming), it also feels like it’s time to say goodbye to popsicles.

Billy, of the blog Wit and Vinegar, went out with a bang… otherwise known as Popsicle Week.

Some of my favorites are Green Smoothie Detox Pops and Chocolate-Dipped Coconut and Rum Popsicles.  Detox and chocolate.  Balance!

Above:  Roasted Strawberry and Toasted Coconut Popsicles.

We may be leaving popsicle season, but I’m not ready for Pumpkin Pie just yet.  Almost, but not yet.

I am, however, experimenting with Pumpkin Pie recipes for the cookbook.

Pumpkin Pie lunch.  Twist my arm.

I have been very fortunate to hang out with people I admire lately.

I’ve admired Matt Armendariz’s food photographer and blog Matt Bites for years… five years to be exact.

He was kind enough to welcome me into his studio to give me some food photography tips, show me his extensive prop room, and let me put a colander on my head.

Matt showed me his setup and approach to delectable food photography.  He also shared funny stories and laughed at all of my jokes. There will be a video of the whole day shortly.  We made a little something for you.

Seriously though… getting the chance to work with someone I’ve sooooo admired just overwhelms me.  It makes me emotional just to think about it.  If you chase down the thing that you love, if you do it even when it feels big and scary, if you do it through love and hate, if you just follow that thing you love… there are moments when you find yourself in a room working with one of your heroes.

That’s really cool.

Today is August 28, 2013.  It’s 50 years since Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have A Dream speech.  To hear these words…. to really hear what they were, and how they’re still so raw, real, and important…. it’s a big deal for always.  Some things are NOT a big deal, Miley Cyrus being one of them.